Photo: Marcin Kilarski / EyeEm / EyeEm / Getty Images
Syracuse men's lacrosse team suffered a setback with an 11-7 loss to Duke on Saturday (April 19) at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. This marks the Orange's second consecutive defeat, putting their NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy. Duke's Eric Malever led the charge with five goals, while Syracuse struggled with turnovers and a slow start.
The Orange, ranked seventh, had difficulty finding their rhythm, failing to score in the first and third quarters. Duke's defense forced 18 turnovers, an unusual number for Syracuse, which leads the nation in fewest turnovers per game. Joey Spallina and Luke Rhoa each scored two goals for Syracuse, but it wasn't enough to overcome Duke's early 4-0 lead.
Syracuse head coach Gary Gait acknowledged the team's struggles, saying, "We didn’t play great today... Duke came full of energy and hustle." Despite the loss, Syracuse still controls its destiny for an NCAA Tournament bid. They must win their final home game against North Carolina next Saturday (April 26) at the JMA Dome to secure their spot.
Duke, now 10-4, capitalized on their fast start and strong defense, with goalie Patrick Jameison making 13 saves. The Blue Devils will face Virginia next, while Syracuse prepares for a crucial matchup against North Carolina.